Bad experiences in the past doesn’t mean we give up on being led to the right local church community for us.
I was in a few local churches before i finally felt happy and peaceful permanently settling down in New Creation Church in Singapore as my local church community.
What happens if the local church you attend is not completely share the same doctrine as you?
If you have a sure confidence in what you believe and it aligns with God’s word, then just listen and apply the parts that your church is teaching correctly and carry on with what you believe to be right.
If your beliefs differ too much from what is preached at your local church and you have no peace in your spirit, then continue to attend as you search for a new local church to settle in, as guided by the Holy Spirit.
Don’t give up on finding a Jesus-centered local church that exalts God’s love and Grace—continue your search patiently and I believe the Lord will lead you to one that’s a good fit for you.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”” (Matthew 18:20 WEB)
There is a special anointing present when believers are physically gathered in Jesus’ name.
Jesus is in the middle of the group of gathered believers through His omnipresent Spirit.
Jesus our Bridegroom has to remain in Heaven and wait for the Rapture before meeting us face-to-face.
However, He is able to work and be present among us through the Holy Spirit which is also called the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19) and the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9, 1 Peter 1:11).
When the Holy Spirit simultaneously appears among the groups of believers, He is present with power to dispense gifts and set captives free.
You will receive breakthroughs and experiences when you’re worshiping together with other believers that you won’t when you’re alone.
The body of Christ is made of many members that care for each other. Believers are meant to minister to one another—using our gifts and ministries to impart life and strength to others.
“But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires. For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now they are many members, but one body. The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
(1 Corinthians 12:11-27 WEB)
You may be an eye and I may be a foot, but it doesn’t mean that either of us are inferior in any way.
We just serve different, unique functions and we are both needed—beneficial for the whole body of Christ.
There is no place for division or boasting in our different callings.
Not going to local church means you’re missing out on the ideal blessed life that God wants you to enjoy—fellowship with your family in God, benefiting from the gifts of others and having the sense of purpose from using your gifts to minister to others.
Like in the first verse I shared, there is a “one another” for the Christian life.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 WEB)
In different seasons of our life on earth, the strong ones in each season can lift up the ones who are weak.
Together, we can build up the body of Christ to reach its full stature—walking in love, good works and living according to what’s written for us who are under the New Covenant of Grace.
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